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Tang suit

A Tang suit is the jacket at New Year dinner. It isn't from the Tang dynasty.

Tang suit
Chinese nameTangzhuang
RootsQing dynasty magua jacket
FeaturesStand collar, frog buttons
Best forNew Year, birthdays, weddings

The name, the cut, the comeback

1

The name

Tang here simply means Chinese, as in Tangrenjie, Chinatown. Overseas Chinese long called themselves Tang people.

2

The cut

Stand collar, center opening, frog buttons. Traditional ones run sleeve and body in one piece, with no shoulder seam.

3

The comeback

World leaders wore them at the 2001 APEC summit in Shanghai, and the jacket surged back into Chinese wardrobes.

Tang is the name. Qing is the cut.

Spot a good jacket

选Avoid anything labeled shouyi. Those are burial clothes, often in similar brocade.
选Prefer woven jacquard. Printed gold patterns can flake.
选Raise both arms. One-piece sleeves pull at the back when too small.
选Check that frog buttons are firm and fasten without a fight.

Tang suit

Hand-picked pieces are on the way.

Good to know

Is a Tang suit from the Tang dynasty?

No. It grew out of the Qing dynasty magua jacket. Tang refers to China in the old overseas name, Tang people. Tang dynasty clothing is a different thing.

What is the difference between a Tang suit and a Mao suit?

A Tang suit has a stand collar and frog buttons, usually in silk or brocade. A Mao suit, or Zhongshan suit, has a turned-down collar, plain buttons and four pockets.

What do you wear with a Tang suit?

Dark trousers and plain shoes, cloth or leather. Keep what goes underneath simple, a plain shirt or tee.

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